What's in your DD 214: Is the Senator a "Combat" Veteran?

I did not know that coming under fire was a requirement for being a "combat" veteran. I guess all those pilots who bombed sites in Iraq and Afghanistan and did not come under fire do not get credit for combat sorties. From my understanding as long as you served or conducted operations in the AOR that is declared a combat zone you are then entitled to the combat veteran moniker. Personally you are veteran that served in support of or in combat.

This is a matter of the Liberal media going after a Republican who spanked their candidate.

Brian Williams can say he's a combat veteran... But Joni Ernst can't?!

Stop the world, I want to get off.

She served in an area that had been designated a combat zone. What else would she call herself? She's never inflated her contribution, and in fact has made a point of stating what she did and didn't do?

I think those that would question her service and her qualification as a combat vet don't understand what it means. If I was her - or any SM in the same situation, I'd be insulted.

If she's not a combat vet, then what else needs to happen before she is? Come under fire? How close do the bullets need to come? Does she need to be in firefight? Does she have to take cover?

Serving in a combat zone makes one a combat vet. My 2 cents.